The Seattle Super Bowl and Other Thoughts

 

The Seattle Seahawks 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX has been in our rear view mirror for four days, so there is no point in going into great detail about the game at this point.  It was a game that lacked in drama.  If this same game had taken place at 1:00 on an October Sunday afternoon, it would have been noted in the rundown of scores and written off as a relatively dull and one sided affair.  However, this game took place at the Super Bowl, so it is a game of great consequences, history wise.  

The game was noteworthy for the other worldly performance of the Seahawks' defense.  They completely overwhelmed Pats' QB Drake Maye and the offensive line that was supposed to protect him.  Poor New England left tackle Will Campbell (#66).  I'd hate to be him sitting in the film room when the coaches grade that performance.

I don't know how sustainable that Seattle defense will be over the next five years or so, but this past Sunday they looked "Steelers Steel Curtain" and "1985 Bears" good.

A word about the quarterbacks.

As I watched this game unfold, I said to those watching with me that the blame for New England's performance was going to fall, unfairly, all on Drake Maye, and he has been taking a beating since that game.  No mistake, Maye played a bad game and it appeared that he was in way over his head on Sunday afternoon.  He was playing injured, so there is that, and as mentioned above, his offensive line gave him ZERO chance to succeed in this game, and he is only in his second year in the NFL cut him some slack. He finished second in the voting for league MVP this season and with good reason.  I think the Pats are set at quarterback for the foreseeable future.

The Sam Darnold Redemption Story is one of the better ones in the NFL over the last couple pf seasons.  He was a high first round draft pick, number three overall, I believe, of the Jets (where careers go to die), and he bombed there.  He was discarded by New York and went to San Francisco as a back-up, and then became free agent signee of the Vikings in 2024, where he led the team to 14 wins.  The Vikes bombed out in the playoffs where Darnold didn't play well.  He was released and then signed with Seattle this past season, where he led Seattle to a pretty good season.  Yet all season long, the talking heads kept saying that Darnold would eventually be Seattle's undoing.  Well, it didn't happen, did it?  No, Darnold didn't have a great game either in the Super Bowl (the Patriots have a pretty good defense, too), but he didn't make any mistakes, and his team, you know, WON THE GAME.  

No one is comparing Sam Arnold to Joe Montana, but I think he's earned the right to now tell the doubters to eat it.  And I wonder what the outlook would be like in Steelers Nation right now if instead of signing free agent Aaron Rodgers last year, the team had signed free agent Sam Darnold instead.

BAD BUNNY

Yes, we watched the much discussed Halftime Show featuring Bad Bunny.  Yes we were entertained, and yes, we enjoyed it.  No, we didn't understand the words sung in Spanish, but we loved the music, the dancing, and the overall spectacle of the performance.  As the days passed, and we came to learn the meaning of what was being communicated on stage to the audience, we came to appreciate the show even more. There was an actual wedding that took place during the show.  How could you not like that? And how can you possibly take a stance against  this message that was communicated:

If it wasn't so sad and pathetic, it would actually be funny watching so many of our so-called leaders in Washington twisting themselves into knots in the months leading up to the Super Bowl and in the days since over what they conceive as being "un-American", "unpatriotic", and "disgusting", even threatening deportation and FCC licensing of the TV networks.  Which prompts me to ask, Why was the leader of this rabble watching this show at his Super Bowl party down there in Berchtesgaden-by-the-Sea, aka, Mar-a-Largo?  Why wasn't HE watching his boy Kid Rock performing the All-American Alternative Halftime Show?

There is great irony here.  Super Bowl Halftime entertainment, like much of popular music, has passed me by.  I get it, and if the NFL chooses to go with what is current and popular, fine by me.  I have glanced at halftime shows over last five years or so briefly and have basically said "talented people, but not for me", and have used halftimes to get something to eat and go to the bathroom.  That would have probably been the case this year, but for all of the fuss raised by the so-called patriots who are currently in the process of destroying the America that has been built since the end of World War II. 

So I watched the Bad Bunny show, and I enjoyed it, and I'm guessing that most people did.  The TV ratings numbers show that in excess of 135 million people watched the Super Bowl halftime show.

5 million people tuned into the Kid Rock alternate show (the leader of the anti-Bad Bunny forces, as noted, did not).

12.5 million people tuned into the Puppy Bowl Halftime show on Animal Planet.

Super Bowl Commercials

Four days after the fact, the commercial that sticks with me most was for Dunkin' that featured Ben Affleck and actors in character from '90s sitcoms, although I wish that  Alfonso Ribeiro would have been able to do a few steps of "The Carlton" in there.    The worst commercial was for an electric razor for Manscaping that talked about keeping beards and sideburns trimmed, but was REALLY talking about men shaving....somehwere else.  Didn't need to see that.

That's it, that's the list.

FINAL NOTE:  I went down a road in this post that I usually try to avoid when writing The Grandstander.  I am going to try not to make a habit of these kinds of posts.  If you were offended, I'm not going to apologize.  I have hated seeing what has been happening in this country over the last year, THAT has been truly offensive to me, and sometimes you just have to say something about it.

The Championship Games

 

One of my favorite sports days of the year did not let me down as the AFC and NFC Championship Games produced a lot of drama in determining the upcoming Super Bowl matchup indicated in the photo above.

New England 10 - Denver 7

This one started out to be a very MEH kind of a game.  Denver, playing with a backup QB Jared Stidham, scored early and took a 7-0 lead.  New England's QB Drake Maye played not so well, but The Patriots recovered a fumble inside the Broncos 15 yard line and were able to tie the game 7-7 at the half.  Oh, and each team suffered failed field goal attempts during the first half.

The Pats took the opening second half kick-off and drove over 80 yards and consumed close to eight minutes of game time that led to a field goal and a 10-7 lead.  As that drive was unfolding, though, a curious thing happened. A day that started sunny and clear turned into a blizzard-y snow game.

My friend Vic says that the snow ruined what should have been a good game.  I say that the snow turned what had been a plodding affair into a fascinating game both visually and strategically.  I especially enjoyed hearing Tony Romo on the telecast stressing how the conditions were so varied depending on which direction of the field you were going.  After New England was able to kick a FG at the end of that opening second half drive to take a 10-7 lead, Romo  made a point of mentioning that conditions were such that he didn't think that either team would be able to score for the rest of the game, and he turned out to be correct.

Seattle 31 - LA Rams 27

Whatever the Pats-Broncos game lacked in excitement, this one more than made up for it.  Lots of scoring, spectacular scoring plays, great quarterback play from Sam Darnold and Matthew Stafford, and gift touchdowns for each team (a muffed punt by LA that resulted in a Seahawks TD; an unsportsmanlike conduct on a knucklehead Seattle DB on a fourth down play that gave the Rams a first down, which Stafford immediately converted into a long TD pass against the same knucklehead DB).  It also featured plays by WR's Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba that were utterly amazing to watch.

Just one terrific football game, to go along with two other terrific games between these two teams during the regular season.  If the NFL doesn't match these two against each other for the Thursday Night opening game next year, they're crazy.

Oh, and speaking of drama, I mentioned in my post yesterday that back on December 8, I made a $2.50 sucker bet parlay bet that both New England and Seattle would win their respective Conference Championships.  As neither game was in the bag until the final gun sounded, that wager certainly added a bit of spice for me as the games unfolded.  It turned out to be well worth it:

Shortly after the NFC game ended last night, FanDuel posted a line of Seattle -4.5 points with an O/U of 46.5 points for the Super Bowl.  Lots of time to reflect and slice and dice all aspects of the coming game, but based on what I saw yesterday, Seattle certainly deserves the role of favorite in this one.

Patriots 28 - Seahawks 24, and Other Super Bowl Thoughts

Okay, okay, I know that no one is supposed to like the New England Patriots, but you've got to hand it to them, and you most especially have to hand it to Tom Brady.  They are good, Brady is perhaps the Best Ever, and that 28-24 win over Seattle last night was one whale of a football game.

When Brady threw that second interception, which led to a Seattle TD and a 24-14 lead at the end of three quarters, that game was this close to being over.  I said at the time that the Patriots simply HAVE to respond right now, or this one could be over.  Did they ever.  Brady responds with a TD drive, the New England defense responds by forcing a three-and-out, and Brady responds AGAIN with another TD drive. Excellent play by the Patriots and positively brilliant play by Brady.

Of course, all of it could have been rendered moot because of a fluky tip ball catch by the Seahawks.  

Which leads up to that positively stupefying play call by Seattle on the goal line which led to the interception that sealed the deal for New England.  You don't give the ball to Marshawn Lynch when you are on the one yard line and a TD wins you the Super Bowl?  The term "dumbshit" doesn't even begin to describe the stupidity of that play call.  That one is going to haunt Pete Carroll forever, or at least until he coaches another Super Bowl win (and maybe not even then).

And how fitting that this 2014 NFL season ends in a Pier Six brawl.  What great imagery.  Stay classy, Seattle.

********

Of course we all know that the actual game is merely a footnote to the Super Bowl, so here are my random thoughts on everything else.....

• It took Idena Manzell 2:07 to sing the National Anthem.  Too long.  That song should be sung in ninety seconds, tops.

• We liked Katy Perry and her halftime show.  Very energetic, very talented. Now, like Bruno Mars last year, Miss Perry doesn't appeal to our particular demographic, but there is no denying the talent.  For the second year in a row, the NFL has abandoned Geezer Rock and hit it out of the park.

The there are the commercials.  Here are the ones we found worth noting.

• BMW with Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric
• Carnival Cruise using JFK's voice to hawk their cruises.  I found that to be inappropriate.  Wonder what the Kennedy Family thought. At what point does a President, even a deceased one, become public domain?
• What happens when you pour Coke into a computer
• The Dove soap "Daddy" commercial
• The Doritos ad with the guy on the airplane
• Nissan "Cat's in the Cradle"
• Fiat "Viagra" commercial
• Kia commercial with Pierce Brosnan
• Wix website with old football players "Farve and Carve", "Immaculate Receptions"...brilliant
• Victoria's Secret "let the real games begin"
• Then, of course, Sketcher's shoes using Pete Rose.  Is there nothing that guy won't do for a buck?  Note to self: never, ever buy a pair of Sketchers.  Never.

There are now sixteen days reaming until Pirates pitchers and catchers report to Bradenton.

The Super Bowl

Regulars have no doubt noticed that I have been almost completely silent about the NFL Playoffs and the upcoming Super Bowl.  I just know that you have all missed my always not-so-accurate playoff predictions.  This can be traced to a couple of reasons.

One, due to our vacation in Hawaii and it's five hour time difference, I saw exactly NONE of the divisional playoffs or the conference championship games.  That's not exactly true.  I ducked into a bar in a town called Paia on Maui and saw Marshawn Lynch score the touchdown that put Seattle ahead of Green Bay late in the fourth quarter in the NFC title game.  The bar was filled with Seahawks fans, and the place exploded.  At the time, I was in a complete vacuum about the game and had no idea of what led up to that point.  And we got back to our hotel room in time to tune into the New England-Indy game in the fourth quarter with the Pats up 35-7, so why bother with the rest of it?

That has been the sum and substance of my NFL watching since the Steelers went down to the Ravens back on January 3.

The second reason for my silence on the game is the fact that I seem to be able to generate only negative passion for either of the participants.  Deflated footballs, smarmy coaches on both sides, loudmouth Richard Sherman, closed-mouthed Marshawn Lynch, blowhard Robert Kraft.  Hard to like either team, and both teams have enough going for them that you wouldn't mind seeing both of them lose.

This means I'm going to skip the game, right?  Not on your tintype, my friend.  The NFL has done a lot to turn you off in 2014, but I still like it, I like watching football, and, hey, it's the SUPER BOWL!!!!  And, whatever the faults of these two teams, they are both very good teams, and it should be a hell of a good football game.  As always, I will skip the hype and the hoopla of four plus hours of pre-game shows, (will probably watch a movie in the afternoon leading up to game time), and will tune in around 6:00 or so for the 6:30 kick-off.  I learned a long time ago that skipping all the network pre-game b.s. prevents you from being burned out before the game even begins.  Then there are the commercials, and the half-time show. I am completely unfamiliar with Katy Perry, other than I know shows a good looking young woman, and am anxious to see what kind of talent she is.

As for a prediction, well, here goes, and having not watched any of the games leading up to this one, it will not be my most informed prediction.  I am going to make this one based strictly on the two quarterbacks.  Russell Wilson is a terrific young talent, but Tom Brady is TOM BRADY, and, much as many may be loathe to admit it, he is one of they greatest of all time.  I am guessing that he wants to avenge those two Super Bowl losses to the Giants in recent years, and I am predicting that the old guy will out play the young guy in the one.  I also think that Bill Belichick will out coach Pete Carroll.

So call this one a win for the Patriots in what I hope will be a tense, close, and exciting game.  Then, we can all hold our noses when the Lombardi trophy is presented to Bob Kraft and Bill Belichick, or just turn the TV off when the final gun goes off, or immediately switch over to the new episode of "Downtown Abbey" that you DVR'd while the game was going on.

Enjoy the game, and party responsibly.

Hail, Seattle, and Other Super Bowl Thoughts

Well, that was one dud of a game yesterday, wasn't it?  I mean, really, what can be said about it?  But I'll throw some random thoughts at you anyway....

• Denver's first three possessions consisted of eight plays and produced a Seattle safety, a punt, and an interception.  It was four and one-half minutes into the second quarter before Denver made a first down.  I was thinking "this is like the Steelers vs. the Vikings in Super Bowl IX."
• The safety on the first play of the game gave an indication of what was to come, and the kick return for a TD to open the second half effectively ended the game.  The "Denver Super Bowl Champion" hats and t-shirts were already on the planes to Third World countries once Percy Harvin crossed the goal line.
• I thought that Peyton Manning looked every one of his 37 years by half-time.
• That DB Kam Chancellor for the Seahawks - WOW!  And he's only the second best DB for Seattle!
• I could go on and talk about key plays here and there in the game, but why bother?  I mean, how can you single one or two specific plays in an ass-kicking like this? The game was never, not once, in doubt for the Seahawks.

Some other thoughts on events surrounding the actual game...

• That fur coat on Joe Namath for the coin toss - tremendous.  Broadway Joe is still Broadway Joe!
• The weather sure wasn't a factor.  Expect the Super Bowl to return to New York in the next 8-10 years.
• It wasn't until late in the second half that Fox began to show shots of celebrities in the stands (Hugh Jackman, Michael Douglas, Paul McCartney).  This is unusual for Fox, and, thankfully, none of these people were stars of lousy Fox Network sitcoms.
• I was unfamiliar with his work, and I am not about to go out an buy  a bunch of his records (can we still call them "records"?), but I was impressed with Bruno Mars and his halftime show. Very talented and quite entertaining guy.  I only wished that he didn't relinquish a part of his 14 minute show to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
• Loved it when, at one point in the third quarter, Troy Aikman essentially said "this game is over."  The Suits at neither the NFL nor Fox had to be happy about that.
• For the umpteenth year in a row, I turned the TV on shortly after 6:00, thus missing the entire four hour pregame drivel.  This is great for one's mental well being.

The commercials. I liked...

• The Chevy Silverado commercial with the bull saying "Hello, ladies."
• Radio Shack, "the 80's called"
• "Gwen quits" for GoDaddy.com
• The Tim Tebow T-Mobile "no contract" commercials
• Bob Dylan for Chrysler.  Great commercial!
• The Budweiser Puppy Love and Returning Hero commercials
• The one with the woman running the tanning salon.  I think it was for GoDaddy.

Did not like....

• David Beckham in his underwear. Those tattoos are awful.
• The VW engineers sprouting wings
• The Steven Colbert pistachio commercial. Kind of creepy.
• Heinz Ketchup "if you're happy and you know it".  I'm sure all those Heinz employees recently let go are glad the company spent $4 million on that lousy commercial.
• The bear in the store eating Chobani Yogurt with a Bob Dylan song playing over it.  Just when I was going to write about how disappointing it was to see Dylan sell out like that, he redeemed himself with that Chrysler spot.
• That two part Bud Light commercial early in the game.  Bud Light usually has some of the best Super Bowl commercials, but those two were big swings and misses this year.

As for my predictions, I called for a Seattle win - check. I said fewer than 50 points would be scored.  Actual total was 51, pretty close.  I said it would be a close game.  Well, you can't win 'em all.

I finished the NFL Post Season with an 8-3 record.  Pretty good.

Congratulations, Seahawks, a most deserving Super Bowl Champion.

Pirates pitchers and catchers report to Bradenton in nine days.

The Conference Championships - Predictions

As I mentioned in a post the other day, in my beginning of the NFL season write-up, I predicted that the Broncos would defeat the 49'ers in the Super Bowl, and incredibly, it is still possible for this very prediction to take place.  

Now, I should just be a man of my convictions and let that stand and predict Denver and San Francisco victories in the conference championship games tomorrow.  

But I am not going to do that.  I am going to take a mulligan here and make separate predictions for this weekend.  Thus, I will be able to give myself two separate opportunities to say, "see, I got that one!"  Isn't that what all the talking heads on television do?

Seriously, after seeing the Round Two games last week (by the way, I went 4-0 in my predictions on those four games last week, boosting my record to 6-2 for this post-season, and assuring myself of a winning record), my biggest take-away was the performance of the Patriots in crushing the Colts.  Hey, I am a big fan of Peyton Manning, and I will be rooting for him tomorrow, but I just feel that the Patriots will be too much for the Broncos.  Bitch and moan about Bill Belichick all you want, but the guy gets it done.  And it helps when you have Tom Brady as your quarterback.

The 49ers-Seahawks game looks to be a good one (as does the Pats-Broncos).  Another take-away from last week is that the 49ers are a very chesty bunch and hard team to root for. On the other hand, Pete Carroll is a hard coach to root for, so I am not all that sure about for whom I am going to be cheering in this one tomorrow.  If I can recall, Seattle clobbered the 49ers at home this past season, and lost closely to them in SF. The game is in Seattle, which, by all accounts may be the stadium with the largest home field advantage in the NFL, so I am going with the Seahawks in this one.

Thus in two weeks, your super Bowl will be....

VS.

(I have always preferred the old school Pats logo!)

As always, watch, but don't bet.